Brassiere construction for the handicapped

ABSTRACT

A pair of connected breast cups, a flexible strap extending from the breast cups for engagement about a wearer&#39;&#39;s neck, and an arcuate stay extending from the breast cups for retaining engagement about the wearer&#39;&#39;s torso.

United States Patent [191 Rudolph 1 BRASSIERE CONSTRUCTION FOR THE HANDICAPPED [76] Inventor: Lois K. Rudolph, 104-B Parkview Apts., Collings Ave, Collingswood, NJ. 08107 [22] Filed: Oct. 10, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 296,300

[52] US. Cl 128/425, 128/504, 128/510 [51] Int. Cl. A4lc 3/00 [58] Field of Search 112/425, 465, 473, 477,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Lobel 128/504 [451 Aug. 6, 1974 2,472,281 6/1949 Brudcrlein 128/504 3,204,638 9/1965 Winklcr 128/504 X 3,306,299 2/1967 Paramore 128/510 X 3,556,107 1/1971 Brumficld l28/465 FOREIGN PATENTS OR- APPLlCATlONS 680,397 10/1952 Great Britain 128/504 Primary Examiner werner H. Schroeder [57] ABSTRACT A pair of connected breast cups, a flexible strap extending from the breast cups for engagement about a wearers neck, and an arcuate stay extending from the breast cups for retaining engagement about the wearers torso.

6 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures BRASSIERE CONSTRUCTION FOR THE HANDICAPPED BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION As is well known, there are many handicapped persons who are unable to completely dress themselves by reason of a disabled arm. For example, it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, for a handicapped woman having a disabled arm to don a conventional brassiere. That is, the dressing procedure involved with a conventional brassiere requires the use of two arms and hands, or assistance from another person.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an important object of the present invention to provide a brassiere which is capable of being quickly and easily applied to or donned by the wearer, which procedure requires only one arm and hand of the wearer, so as to permit self-donning by handicapped persons.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a brassiere construction having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraph, which serves to afford ample support and comfort in use to women of all sizes.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a brassiere construction of the type described which is extremely simple in structure, durable and reliable throughout a long useful life, being well suited for repeated laundering, and which can be economically manufactured for sale at a reasonable price.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent uponreading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a front perspective view showing a brassiere constructed in accordance with theteachings of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional elevational view taken generally along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1, enlarged for clarity.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT While the structure illustrated and described is primarily intended for use as a brassiere, having been developed for this intended purpose, it is appreciated that the device is capable of other applications, say being used as a halter as in evening wear, a bathing suit, or other. All such applications are intended to be comprehended herein.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIG. 1 thereof, a brassiere of the present invention is there generally designated 10, and may include a pair of breast cups 11 disposed in side-by-side relation and secured together, by any suitable means,

I such as an intermediate portion orgusset 12, having opposite edge portions stitched to respective cups, as

along lines of stitching 13. The breast cups 11 may be of any suitable type of fabrication, having the desired fullness or otherwise, as style dictates, and, of course, of any suitable size.

Extending from laterally outer or distal side regions of the cups 11., and suitably connected thereto, are the opposite end portions of a neck strap 15. More particularly, the neck strap 15 is advantageously of a flexible strap material, say longitudinally resiliently elongate or elastic, and of adjustable length, as by a conventional adjustment member or buckle l6. Opposite end portions, as at 17, of the neck member or nape strap 15 extend to respective distal regions of cups 11. As best seen in FIG. 2, the end portion 17 of strap 15 extends downwardly into facing engagement with the interior surface of cup 11 along the distal or remote region thereof, being suitably. secured thereto, as by stitching 18.

Extending along the lower region of the cups 11, depending therefrom, is a tubular or tunnel formation 20, in the nature of a hem secured to a depending lower edge region or lip 21 of the cups 11. That is, the tunnel or hem 20 may be formed of one piece, as illustrated, or otherwise, having its longitudinally extending edges uppermost and secured in facing engagement with and on opposite sides of the depending cup lip 20, as by stitching 22, or other suitable securement. In this manner, the hem 20 defines an elongate hollow passageway or tunnel, and the hem ends remain open affording access to the interior of the tunnel. A stiff resilient elongate member, strip or stay is generally designated 25, and may be fabricated of any suitable resiliently flexible, arcuately configured material, such as plastic or metal. In particular, the stay 25 is of an arcuate configuration, having its end portions free, as at 26, and in undistended or undeflected condition may assume a generally circular outline configuration with the free end portions 26 overlapping each other, as in FIG. 1. Further, the resiliently flexible arcuate strip or stay 25 may be of a constant cross-sectional configuration throughout its length, being arcuate orgenerally circular in a substantially flat plane, and having a major crosssectional dimension transverse of or normal to the plane of the stay. That is, while the stay 25 in FIG. 2 is in agenerally horizontal plane, the cross-sectional configuration thereof is illustrated as being generally rectangular, with the larger dimension thereof generally vertical. In practice, the cross-sectional configuration of stay 25 is sized for conforming engagement in the tunnel or hem 20, see FIG. 2, with opposite end portions of the stay extending through opposite open ends of the tunnel into'their proximate relationship, as seen in FIG. 1. Stated otherwise, a longitudinally intermediate region of the elongate stay is received in the tunnel 20 and by this means secured along the lower region of the cuts 11. In this relationship of generally coplanar arcuate stay 25 having its intermediate region conformably received in tunnel or hem 20, the relationship between cups 11 and stay 25 is effectively maintained with suitable reliability.

In use, as to don the brassiere 10, it is only necessary with one hand to place the strap 15 behind the head and neck of the wearer, with the cups 11 in front of the wearer. With the cups properly receiving the breasts, the same hand of the wearer may flex the stay 25 to engage the latter in embracing relation about the wearers torso, in which condition the breasts are suitably supported and the brassiere properly maintains itself in position. Of course, removal of the brassiere is effected by mere reversal of the above-described procedure.

It will now be appreciated that the brassiere of the present invention provides a structure which is extremely simple for ease and economy in manufacture, and durability and reliability in use, being readily selfapplied to the person of the wearer as the ample space bounded within the neck strap and cups 11 is adapted to be easily dropped over the wearers head, and the arcuate stay deflected for snap engagement about the wearers torso.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A brassiere construction comprising a pair of breast cups in side-by-side relation, connecting means interposed between and attaching together said breast cups, a nape strap having its opposite ends connected to respective cups for extension of its intermediate region about a wearers neck in cup-supporting relation, and a stiff resiliently flexible arcuate stay having its longitudinally intermediate region extending along the lower region of and secured to said cups, said stay extending from remote regions of said cups generally toward each other and terminating in free end regions adjacent to each other, said stay being deflectable for location in embracing engagement about a wearers torso with said free end regions rearwardly, said brassiere being adapted for single-handed donning by dropping the nape strap over the head and subsequently engaging the stay rearwardly about the torso with the cups in receiving relation with the breasts.

2. A brassiere construction according to claim 1, said strap extending from opposite outer sides of said cups, to afford a substantial opening bounded within said strap and cups for convenient passage over the wearers head.

3. A brassiere construction according to claim 2, said strap being flexible for comfort in donning and wearmg.

4. A brassiere construction according to claim I, said stay comprising an elongate strip extending arcuately in coplanar relation and formed with a substantially constant cross-sectional configuration having a major direction generally normal to the plane of the stay.

5. A brassiere construction according to claim 4, in combination with an open ended tunnel extending along the lower region of said cups of a constant crosssection configured to conformably receive said intermediate stay region.

6. A brassiere construction according to claim 1, said strap extending from opposite outer sides of said cups and being of flexible elastic material, to afford a substantial opening for passage over the wearers head and 

1. A brassiere construction comprising a pair of breast cups in side-by-side relation, connecting means interposed between and attaching together said breast cups, a nape strap having its opposite ends connected to respective cups for extension of its intermediate region about a wearer''s neck in cup-supporting relation, and a stiff resiliently flexible arcuate stay having its longitudinally intermediate region extending along the lower region of and secured to said cups, said stay extending from remote regions of said cups generally toward each other and terminating in free end regions adjacent to each other, said stay being deflectable for location in embracing engagement about a wearer''s torso with said free end regions rearwardly, said brassiere being adapted for single-handed donning by dropping the nape strap over the head and subsequently engaging the stay rearwardly about the torso with the cups in receiving relation with the breasts.
 2. A brassiere construction according to claim 1, said strap extending from opposite outer sides of said cups, to afford a substantial opening bounded within said strap and cups for convenient passage over the wearer''s head.
 3. A brassiere construction according to claim 2, said strap being flexible for comfort in donning and wearing.
 4. A brassiere construction according to claim 1, said stay comprising an elongate strip extending arcuately in coplanar relation and formed with a substantially constant cross-sectional configuration having a major direction generally normal to the plane of the stay.
 5. A brassiere construction according to claim 4, in combination with an open ended tunnel extending along the lower region of said cups of a constant cross-section configured to conformably receive said intermediate stay region.
 6. A brassiere construction according to claim 1, said strap extending from opposite outer sides of said cups and being of flexible elastic material, to afford a substantial opening for passage over the wearer''s head and comfort in donning and wearing. 